Unfortunately for Gordon and his team, it was the devastating blow they long feared.

Gordon, who led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013 despite serving a two-game suspension then, has been banned for the rest of this season despite his appeal to the league earlier this month following his latest violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Gordon, who is in stage three of the league's drug program, will have to wait one year until he can apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement.

"I'd like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Cleveland Browns organization and our fans," Gordon said in a statement issued by the NFLPA. "I am very disappointed that the NFL and its hearing office didn't exercise better discretion and judgment in my case. I would like to sincerely thank the people who have been incredibly supportive of me during this challenging time, including my family, my agent, my union, my legal team, and the Cleveland Browns staff."

Gordon, 23, had expressed his mounting frustration to teammates this week. Browns Linebacker Karlos Dansby told USA TODAY Sports Thursday that twisting in a state of limbo was sapping Gordon and expressed a plea that Gordon receive a verdict in order to take subsequent steps.

"Josh is real humble about his situation, and I know it's weighing on him heavy," Dansby said. "It's a stressful situation to have that looming over his head like that. Josh is in limbo. He just wants to know what the outcome will be."Just let him know and he can move on and be the best he can be."

The talented but troubled star expressed a hopeful message to his fans — and, apparently, NFL appeals officer Harold Henderson in a Thursday night Instagram caption combined with a photo of him catching a practice pass. The post read: "Only place I can find peace…Good practice today #dawgs."